Team Orion News

Date added: 09/09/2010
US Nats Total Domination

The 2010 ROAR 1/8 Scale Off-Road Nationals were held June 23-27 at Colorado Fast Track in Colorado Springs, CO. The extremely hot temperatures and high elevation would put all engines to the test. Team Orion had their "Big 4" US Drivers in attendance: Jared Tebo, Ryan Cavalieri, Mike Truhe, and Cody King to try and capture Team Orion's first ever 1/8 National Championship.

Team Orion's Jared Tebo was on a mission in Truggy qualifying by TQ'ing 3 of the 4 rounds. Team Orion's Ryan Cavalieri TQ'ed the other round of qualifying making it a Team Orion sweep for every round of qualifying. After qualifying was complete: Tebo was TQ overall, Cavalieri 3rd, Cody King 4th, Mike Truhe 5th, and Clint Wachter outside the top 16.

Tebo went on to win his Semi and set the fastest time to guarantee him the first starting position in the Main Event. Cavalieri, Truhe, and Wachter all advanced out of their Semi's to the Main Event.

At the start of the 45-Minute Truggy A-Main, Tebo got a clean start and began to open up a lead on the field. Tebo's Team Orion powered Kyosho ST-RR was on point as he layed down fast lap after lap. At the halfway point of the Main, Tebo had opened up a 15-second lead on his Team Orion teamate Ryan Cavalieri who was in 2nd place. Team Orion Team Manager Joe Pillars and Kyosho America Team Driver Steven Daniluk provided Tebo with lightning fast pit stops throughout the entire 45-minute A-Main.

When the checkered flag waved, it was Tebo crossing the finish line 1st to take home his and Team Orion's 1st ever 1/8 scale National Championship! Team Orion Teamates Ryan Cavalieri finished a very respectable 2nd place and Mike Truhe just missed the podium finsihing 4th.

Tebo went on to qualify 2nd overall in the 1/8 Buggy class after posting a 2nd and TQ giving him a total of 2 points. This would put him 2nd overall. Ryan Cavalieri 4th, Mike Truhe 6th, Clint Wachter 8th, and Cody King 9th.

In the Buggy Semi's Mike Truhe went on to win his and earned himself a 2nd place grid start for the Main Event. Tebo, Cavalieri, Wachter, and King all advanced out of their Semi's to the Main Event.

At the start of the 1-Hour A-Main Event a first lap pile up allowed Jared Tebo to go from 4th to 2nd by the end of the first lap. Tebo's Team Orion powered Kyosho MP9 TKI-2 was on rails posting many of the fastest laps of the race. At the halfway point, Tebo had opened up an 11 second lead on 2nd place. Once again, Team Orion's Joe Pillars and Kyosho's Steven Daniluk made fast and consistant pit stops to help keep Tebo out front.

At the end of the 1-Hour A-Main Event, Tebo was the only driver to make it by for the extra 93rd lap and to take the win by over 15 seconds. This gave Jared and Team Orion their 2nd 1/8 Scale National Championship and the Clean Sweep for the weekend. Mike Truhe battled back to finish a very strong 3rd place finish landing him on the podium! Cody King put on a late race charge to finish 4th, his best Nationals finish to date.

TEAM ORION CONGRATULATES JARED AND ALL TEAM ORION DRIVERS FOR THE AWESOME PERFORMANCE! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THE TEAM AND MADE THIS WIN POSSIBLE!

Thanks, Joe, for the great report! Thanks to neobuggy.net for the great pictures and result charts.